Recently, a large-scale study funded by OpenAI founder Sam Altman has revealed the impact of unconditional basic income on the lives of Americans. Conducted over three years by the OpenResearch lab, the study provided $1,000 monthly to 3,000 randomly selected subjects in Texas and Illinois, with a control group receiving $50 monthly.
The results showed that recipients primarily used this additional income for basic needs, healthcare, and supporting others. The areas with the largest increase in spending were food, rent, and transportation. Notably, spending on supporting others increased by 26%, a phenomenon particularly evident among low-income groups.
In terms of housing, the study found that recipients were more inclined to move and independently pay for housing, reducing their economic reliance on family or friends. The use of medical services also increased, including hospital stays, emergency care, dental care, and doctor appointments, with an average monthly increase in healthcare spending of about $20. Additionally, there was a reduction in alcohol and drug abuse.
However, the study also revealed complex impacts of unconditional basic income on employment. Although the employment rate and working hours of all participants increased, the increase in the recipient group was smaller than that of the control group. Recipients worked an average of 1.3 fewer hours per week, but their overall income (including cash assistance) remained higher. Researchers believe this reflects greater life flexibility for recipients, allowing them to make decisions based on personal circumstances and values.
Despite reduced working hours, recipients showed increased interest in entrepreneurship, particularly among Black and female groups. They also became more selective in job hunting, preferring interesting or meaningful work.
This study was jointly funded by Sam Altman, Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, and GitLab co-founder Sid Sijbrandij, with a total investment of $45 million. Elizabeth Rhodes, director of OpenResearch, emphasized that the study was not intended to propose specific policy recommendations but to better understand the long-term impact of unconditional basic income.
As artificial intelligence technology advances rapidly, the discussion around universal basic income has intensified. For Altman, unconditional basic income may be the "obvious conclusion" to address the potential displacement of many jobs by AI. However, the study also showed that cash assistance alone cannot solve all structural issues, such as declines in mental health and food security in later stages.
This study provides valuable data and insights, helping to deepen our understanding of the potential societal impacts of unconditional basic income. With the continuous advancement of AI technology, similar research and discussions will play an increasingly important role in future social policy-making.